Measles epidemic in Wales shows no sign of ending as cases climb to 620

6,000 children in the Swansea area alone are still not fully vaccinated against potentially fatal disease

Parents in the county borough are being urged to vaccinate children against measles

The measles epidemic currently spreading across Wales continues to show no signs of ending, health officials have warned as the number of confirmed cases has climbed to 620.

The outbreak of the potentially fatal disease, which can also lead to serious and permanent complications, is continuing in the ABMU, Hywel Dda and Powys areas despite more than 1,700 MMR jabs being given in hospitals in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend last Saturday.

Public Health Wales said it was “inevitable” that some of those children vaccinated on the weekend would have already caught the disease and would still become unwell.

They added that at least 6,000 children remain unvaccinated in the Swansea area and parents, carers and communities continue to be urged to ensure that all children receive the two doses of the MMR vaccine needed to provide protection against measles.

In a statement, Public Health Wales said: “It is inevitable that some children vaccinated in the last week will already be incubating measles and vaccination will not prevent them from becoming unwell, but their illness is likely to be milder than if they had not received the vaccine.”

Dr Marion Lyons, Director of Health Protection for Public Health Wales, said: “The response to the special vaccination clinics held in the Swansea area over the weekend was excellent, with a total of 1,726 children vaccinated.

“In addition, we know that more than 900 children received non-routine MMR vaccinations in GP surgeries last week.

“We are delighted to see parents responding so positively to the outbreak and understanding that measles can be a severe illness and two doses of MMR is the only protection. We need to see this level of response continuing in the coming weeks if we are to bring this outbreak under control.

“However we know that around 6,000 children in the Swansea area alone are still not fully vaccinated against measles, and we cannot be confident that the outbreak will not continue to grow with so many children still at risk from this very contagious and potentially fatal disease.”

Public Health Wales added that those not vaccinated are highly likely to catch the disease and it is “just a matter of time” before a child is left with serious and permanent complications such as eye disorders, deafness or brain damage, or dies.

Dr Lyons said: “Measles cannot be taken lightly because you can never tell who will go on to develop the more serious complications of pneumonia or encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). MMR vaccination offers the only protection against these complications.

“A simple and safe jab from your GP will protect your child’s health, could save their life, and will help protect other children too. It is the only precaution you can take at this worrying time, and we have plenty of stocks of the jab, so I would urge parents to make arrangements with their GP now.

“The alarming numbers of cases of measles and continuing spread of the disease in Wales illustrates how vital it is for parents to get their children vaccinated.”

Meanwhile, the epidemic has led Public Health Wales to offer babies in these areas the MMR vaccine seven months earlier than recommended, meaning some children would get three doses of MMR instead of the usual two.

Dr Lyons said:“Unvaccinated children aged between six and 12 months living in or travelling to the outbreak areas of Swansea and Neath-Port Talbot can be offered vaccination by their GP.

“There’s no adverse effect to this extra jab and those children would still need to receive the recommended two doses at 13 months and three years and four months of age.”

Drop-in clinics which were put on last weekend saw parents and children queuing up to receive the MMR vaccine.

Further clinics are scheduled for this weekend, and Public Health Wales will be visiting schools in the region following the Easter break.

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